The Californian had the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's 2011 race "in his fingers," as his new employer said Thursday, before crashing Panther Racing's car in the final turn. This year, Hildebrand will drive the No. 21 Chevrolet-powered car entered by Ed Carpenter Racing.

Panther released Hildebrand after he crashed on the opening lap of last year's race.

Owner/driver Ed Carpenter said Hildebrand, 26, is worthy of this opportunity.

"He showed he's a talented guy," Carpenter said in announcing the one-race deal. "I felt bad when things ended up like they did last year (with the Panther firing), so we started talking."

The 500 likely will be the first race of the season for Hildebrand, and it will be for Carpenter, too. Carpenter is sharing the No. 20 car this year with Mike Conway, a road course specialist. Conway does not want to race on ovals after crashing twice in the 500 (in 2010 and '12).

The 500 is the first oval race of the season, which begins with a street race next week in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The public service for Gary Bettenhausen, who unexpectedly died last weekend, will be Saturday at Jones Crossing in Mooresville (viewing 3-6 p.m., celebration of life service at 7 p.m.).

Bettenhausen's son, Cary, said his father never wanted much fuss made over his passing, which explains why Saturday is designed as a friends-and-family gathering.

But the outpouring of support for the family of the Hall-of-Fame driver still figures to be immense, and the family recognizes that. Cary said viewing hours will be extended to include everyone.

Expected to speak at the service are longtime Bettenhausen friends Kyle Moyer, Robin Miller, Tim Coffeen and Indianapolis Motor Speedway historian Donald Davidson. There also will be a gathering of friends at IMS in May.

Bettenhausen, who started 21 Indianapolis 500s and won four USAC season championships, died at his home in Monrovia. He was 72.

Newman remembers Bettenhausen

NASCAR driver Ryan Newman never got to race with Bettenhausen, but he remembers watching him drive the Terre Haute National Bank dirt car in the 1980s.

"I was probably eight or nine years old," Newman said. "He was a haul-(butt) driver, at his heart a true racer."

Bettenhausen was known to be stubborn on and off the track, and Newman laughed at some of the stories he's over the years.

Newman, a South Bend native, was cut from a similar cloth, winning a USAC championship of his own, but he never wanted to race in the 500 as Bettenhausen did. Newman said he isn't all that interested in Kurt Busch's upcoming attempt at the 500. But to each his own, he said.

"He's got as good of a shot as anyone," Newman said. "I'm glad he gets to fulfill a lifelong dream."

Newman believes Busch will have a better chance at Indy than an IndyCar driver would have at a NASCAR race. Why?

"Because a stock car driver has to lift (off the gas pedal)," he said.

Etc.

IndyCar's three 500-mile races will count for double points this season, series officials announced Thursday. Qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 also will earn extra points, with Saturday's top qualifier getting 33 points, second 32 and down the line. As many as nine points will be available for Sunday's Fast Nine Shootout. ... IndyCar also dropped its penalty of 10 starting spots for unapproved engine changes. Instead, those who made the decision to switch engines early will receive 10-point penalties. ... Former NFL quarterback Joe Namath was named grand marshal of IndyCar's April 27 race at Barber Motorsports Park.